Thinktank calls for HS2 cash to be spent on broadband

Published: 22nd Jun 2016

A business thinktank has added to the calls for some of the money being spent on the HS2 high-speed rail line to be invested in broadband.

Earlier this month, TalkTalk chairman Sir Charles Dunstone told Computer Weekly the UK would benefit more if a portion of the cash was devoted to improving internet access and NEF has echoed this view.

The thinktank has published a new report, which questioned whether investing £33 billion in HS2 is worthwhile.

It argued the money should instead be divided among various projects and one of these is broadband.

NEF said that £5.5 billion of the HS2 fund should be spent on rolling out super-fast connections across the UK, as this will aid businesses and reduce the demand for inter-city travel.

The organisation concluded: "We urge the government, as custodians of our scarce public resources, to step back from blindly pushing this one flashy, train project and assess our options fully."